08-30-2008, 10:17 PM
The Extraordinarii are fascinating and infuriating, because so little is written about them. It's impossible (for me) to tell from Polibius whether the selected extraordinarii are literally the best fifth of the in infantry individuals, or instead are the best turned out fifth of the allied cohorts. I am inclined to believe that latter, not because I've seen any text supporting it, but just beause it makes sense.
Forming a unit from a bunch of strangers from different towns who don't know each other would actually make the unit less cohesive than one of the standard allied cohorts drawn from a single town. In addition, the allies are not invariably drawn from the Latins, so an ad hoc unit could end up with Oscans, Brutians, Latins and evn Ligurians all mixed up together -- again probably not a recipe for success.
But still, the sources are so vague I'd say you have a lot of freedom to portray them however is best for the game.
Frank Chadwick
Forming a unit from a bunch of strangers from different towns who don't know each other would actually make the unit less cohesive than one of the standard allied cohorts drawn from a single town. In addition, the allies are not invariably drawn from the Latins, so an ad hoc unit could end up with Oscans, Brutians, Latins and evn Ligurians all mixed up together -- again probably not a recipe for success.
But still, the sources are so vague I'd say you have a lot of freedom to portray them however is best for the game.
Frank Chadwick
Frank Chadwick
Res ipso loquitor
Res ipso loquitor
